Cancer News

HPV DNA Testing Leads to Early Detection of Cervical Cancer

Thursday, December 15, 2011 (Last Updated: 12/16/2011)

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing at a first screening results in detection of fewer cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or worse, CIN grade 3 or worse, and cervical cancer at a second screening five years later, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in The Lancet Oncology.

Dorien C. Rijkaart, M.D., from the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues investigated whether HPV DNA testing in a first screen impacted the detection of CIN grade 2 or worse, CIN grade 3 or worse, and cervical cancer in a second screening five years later. Women (aged 29 to 56 years) were randomized to HPV DNA and cytology co-testing (intervention) or to cytology alone (control) at the first screen, while HPV DNA and cytology co-testing was done for both groups at the second screening.

The investigators found that, at the second screen, CIN grade 3 or worse and cervical cancer were significantly less common in the intervention than control group. In the baseline round, significantly more cases of CIN grade 2 or worse were detected in the intervention group. At the second screen, non-HPV16-positive CIN grade 3 or worse detection did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 1.0), but fewer HPV16-positive CIN grade 3 or worse were detected in the intervention group. Cumulative detection of CIN grade 2 or worse and CIN grade 3 or worse was not significantly different between study groups (P = 0.631).

"Our results lend support to the use of HPV DNA testing for all women aged 29 years and older," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial relationships with the pharmaceutical industry. Several authors hold patents pertaining to HPV detection and cervical cancer.